Center's golf fundraiser next Saturday

By Jim Tiffin
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS — The Ninth Annual Future Foundations Family Center Golf Tournament fundraiser will be April 21 this year.

Tournament registration begins at 8 a.m., at the Coyote del Malpais Golf Course, with play beginning at 10 a.m.

Laura Malaj, executive director of the center, said the tournament raises funds for youth programs.

"The most we have raised in past years is about $3,000," she said.

Tournament fees are $150 for a team, which is three players, and this year for an additional $50, the team can sponsor one of the 18 holes on the course, she said.

Of the $150 entrance fee, the center only receives about $25, she said, so in order to try to raise more funds, the hole sponsorship for teams is being introduced.

Funds are also raised are by corporate sponsorships of holes, such as by Corley's Ford, which will offer a new pickup truck if anyone scores a hole-in-one on the 13th hole, she said.

The play this year is a three-man scramble and there will be special prizes for play such as closest to the hole, closest to the line and longest putt, said Dick Griffith, director of human services for the city of Grants, who also coordinates the golf tournament for the center.

There is no limit to the number of teams who can play. Last year there were about 27 teams, Griffith said.

To sign up for the tournament, players can go to the center at 551 W. Washington Drive in Grants, or at the golf course, Griffith said.

Door prizes for the tournament will include a putter, golfing equipment, camping equipment, caps and T-shirts.

A "goodie bag," for players will include a cloth bag containing bananas, a can holder shaped like a golf ball and candy bars, he said.

Griffith said there may be additional door prizes. He intends to go shopping next week for them.

A sound system that operates throughout the entire center is one of the items the golf tournament funds paid for in the past, Griffith said.

"We would really like to break the $3,000 barrier this year," Malaj said, inviting anyone, even those who may not necessarily be regular golfers, to sign up and participate in the tournament.

The golf course is 18 holes and that will be the length of the tournament. When a team or a company sponsors a hole, its name will be posted at the hole, Malaj said.

As part of their entrance fee, golfers will be provided one cart for each three-man team and a hamburger, fries and a soft drink for lunch, Griffith said.

For more information, contact Griffith at the center at (505) 285-3542.

To contact reporter Jim Tiffin, call (505) 287-2197 or e-mail: jtiffin.independent@yahoo.com.